Health Field Officer 2 (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Assistant)

Objective:

The MHPSS ICRC program for people affected by violence and war conflict in Iraq and Kurdistan Iraq (KRI) aims to respond to the MHPSS needs of the survivors (victims of violence and families of missing). The ICRC focuses on strengthening community-based interventions, that constitutes a key entry point to identify, assess, and address invisible mental health needs. The aim is to build the local capacity to enable key stakeholders in providing quality individual and group psychological support, counselling services, and awareness sessions to the affected population, with constant supervision.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Supports MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Assistant) Programme Manager in organising activities and translation in meetings (Field trip forms, Minutes of Meeting, briefings, and debriefings, etc.).
• Complying with ICRC standards, ensures regular monitoring, data collection, reporting and budget analysis.
• Attends Mental Health cluster meetings and any other meetings required to inform, coordinate, collaborate or promote ICRC MHPSS activities with other humanitarian actors and national authorities (chiefly Ministry of Health and Medico-Legal department).
• Develops and maintains contacts with health authorities, academia, technical advisers from other organizations, etc. as necessary.
• Identifies and maps social-inclusion/service-access networks, conducts stakeholder mapping analyses, and keeps regular contact with community representatives and relevant organizations.
• Supports in organization and participates in workshops/training and peer support groups related to access to services for vulnerable groups, especially families of the missing, inclusion for people with disabilities, integration into the community for victims of violence, and other relevant subjects.
• Trains Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, community volunteers and/or external actors.
• Supervises and supports the trained PHC professionals and community actors to consolidate the knowledge and the skills gained during training through regular visits, case discussions, accompaniment, and observation visits.
• Organizes referral of service users and performs case follow-up when needed.
• Participates in regular field trips to Ramadi and Babel district and other areas as required, including KRI, that may include overnight stays.

Scope and impact

• Writes regular reports for the supervisor and other departments (minutes of meetings, field trip reports, etc).
• Applies the validated clinical tools to monitor the impact of the services provided.
• As part of a multidisciplinary team, liaises and communicates with other departments as required, chiefly health, forensics, and protection.

Education and Professional Experience required:

• A University degree in Social Sciences, Psychology, Medicine, or 5 years of experience in the same field.
• 2 to 5 years of overall professional experience, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in MHPSS programs.
• Knowledge of Cognitive behavioural interventions.
• Experience in training, capacity building of community, and clinical supervision.
• Applies the validated clinical tools to monitor the impact of the services provided.
• Strong sense of responsibility and adaptability, able to work overtime when needed.
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and proactively.
• Highly developed analytical, planning, writing, communication, and organizing skills.
• Fluent command of English and Arabic is required, Kurdish is an asset.
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Office experience).
• Flexibility to do overnight field trips.